Iraq's Interior Ministry lifts leave ban, exempts several security units

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Interior Ministry has issued a directive reopening leave for its personnel, with several formations and units excluded from the measure, according to security sources. The exemption covers commanders and directors, the Border Forces, the Federal Police, Civil Defense forces, the Electricity Police, the Environment Police, and all departments and units attached to the Office of the Deputy Interior Minister. The sources said special regulatory directives governing operations in those formations would remain in effect. Under the new arrangement, leave entitlements will be restored for ministry staff outside the exempted units. Leave procedures for the excluded formations will stay suspended. The ministry has not publicly announced the directive, and no further details on its implementation timeline were immediately available.